Last week was not that great in family news for yours truly. After having a wonderful time in Tofino, I came home to find out that: my Ontario brother-in-law (my late husband’s sister’s spouse) was in the hospital with cancer in multiple places in his body; one of my Dutch uncles had died after a long struggle with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; and my baby sister (who lives on the mainland of British Columbia) had passed out at home and was taken by ambulance to hospital (she has multiple health issues that she is dealing with, including being treated for breast cancer). Well, at least I don’t have any health issues at the moment…or so I thought.
Smite me now, Universe!
Let me give you some background. Last September, I noticed that I was having some issues with my eyes. I kept seeing what looked like little black bugs dancing in the corners of my vision…but these weren’t real, I soon realized. And I had a huge floater in my right eye…so huge I nicknamed it my nictitating (or 3rd) eyelid. It would travel slowly back and forth across my entire field of vision just like…well…how I would imagine a 3rd eyelid would.
I called a local optometrist for an eye exam. After a thorough workup, he said he didn’t see anything troubling but was going to pass on my information to the eye doctor’s office upstairs just in case and that I should expect a call. Which happened, and soon I had an appointment to see her the next month. It’s now October. More tests during my appointment…nothing major was found I was told, and I was sent home with instructions to call back in 3 months, for a follow-up.
By now the “black bugs” had disappeared, which means they probably didn’t but my brain just got used to them and starting ignoring them. However my “3rd eyelid” was still very much active. I dutifully called in January at the 3 month mark and was told the eye doc was booking into March. Which begs the question: if the office knows they are booking 3 months out, why didn’t they make my follow-up appointment when I was there in October? Hmmm???? Oh well.
March comes and I get a call that due to unforeseen circumstances my appointment has to be moved to April. OK, I go in April…have all the same tests done again…doc says I have blood in my eye (Very nonchalantly, I might add. Is this my floater?) and she wants me to see the eye surgeon who comes to the island every Friday from Vancouver.
An appointment is made for May. Then cancelled by the office and an appointment made for June. Then cancelled by the office and an appointment made for July. Whatevs…me and my 3rd eyelid are used to this, by now.
Then last Friday (to cap off the week of bad health news, I guess), I get a call from the eye doc’s office apologizing for the short notice but the eye surgeon has an opening today, he thinks I might need laser surgery, and could I be there in 2 hours? Sure, I said (hiding my shock that we went from nonchalance to needing laser surgery in an apparent heartbeat). You need to have someone drive you home as you will have drops in your eyes, they said. I was planning on walking over, I said. Will that be OK? Yes, they said.
Off I trudge to the clinic (25 minute walk away from my house). Where I am told the doc is 45 minutes behind schedule, given a pager by the tech (henceforth to be known as The Gatekeeper) and told to wait in my car (thanks, Covid!). But I walked over, I said. Luckily there was a chair positioned outside the doorway, so I sat down in the vestibule and started reading a book on my phone. Almost 2 hours later, and after watching multiple individuals with ringing pagers approach The Gatekeeper to be let in, it is finally my turn.
I stand in the front of the door with my noisy pager, and The Gatekeeper stands in the open doorway facing me.
I was just ringing your pager to see if it was still working, he deadpans. I crack a tired smile and give him the finger shake my fist at him. He hands me a brand new mask and tells me to head upstairs to the eye doc’s office. Where I undergo more tests and am given the previously foretold eye drops. Then I wait yet again (inside this time) to see the man of the hour – the eye surgeon – thinking that he is going to look at my test results, discuss treatment, and a further appointment will be made.
Yeah. No. That’s not what happened.
Doc comes into the dark exam room, where I am sitting and looking at a computer screen filled with Day-GloTM images of the interior of my eyeball. He examines my eye, all up close and personal.
I wanted to see you today, he says, because if we waited until July I’d be seeing you in the operating room.
Oh, really?
You have a retinal tear and I am going to do laser on your eye to sear it shut.
What!? Right now!?!
Yes, right now. I’m going to lower the back of your chair. Lean back and tilt your head up. I’m going to push on your eye...
Next thing I know he is pushing his finger in between my upper eyelid and socket like he wants to pop my eye out (spoiler: he does want to), and is shining a bright light (the laser) in my eye with his other hand.
No let’s go over the risks of the procedure. No here’s a waiver for you to sign saying you understand the risks and won’t sue the ass off me later. No see the receptionist on the way out to book the laser surgery. It’s Wham Bam, thank you for your eye Ma’am! time.
Thirty long painful seconds later, it’s done. I had but mere moments to contemplate whether or not I was locked in a dark room with a madman who gets his jollies by blinding the people trapped therein, with his trusty shiny laser light. I had absolutely no time to come up with a conclusion let alone a possible escape plan.
I was helped back up to a seated position and told my vision would be black but would come back. Which it did, very quickly. Still in somewhat of a state of shock, I was told an appointment would be made for me to come back in 6 weeks for a follow-up. (Ironically, for the same date I was supposed to be seeing him for my oft-delayed first visit.)
He sends me off with this post-laser dictum: And don’t pick up the boxing gloves for the next 4-5 days, OK? The tear needs time to heal.
I stumble home, in a daze. What the fuck just happened to me?
Everybody is a comedian, in Canadian healthcare it seems. Which reminds me of what a nurse in Emerg told me last fall, when I was there for esophageal spasms (a long boring story culminating in a gastroscopy, severe gastritis and hiatal hernia diagnoses, and daily acid-control meds). He offered me something called a “pink drink” or “pink cocktail”, I forget which – a concoction of pepto-bismol and an analgesic, to ease the burning in my food pipe. (Correction, thanks to my sister the nurse: It’s called a Pink Lady).
Throw it back like a shot of tequila, he says. I know you’ve had experience with those.
OK, he’s right. But how did he know? The man only just met me.
Rock on,
The WB
p.s. It might be too soon to call but I think my 3rd eyelid has gone bye-byes.
p.p.s. This is my 3rd post in 4 days and I am not even doing a blogging challenge. It may never happen again. You might be sorry or relieved to know this. I’m not sure which one I am.
p.p.p.s. Maybe I should have subtitled this “A BC Healthcare Story”. BC healthcare seems to be as relaxed and casual as everything else is, here on Paradise Island. I’m definitely not in Kansas Ontario, anymore! ๐
Oh Deb, this was so unprofessional! I hope you’re doing better now.
Leslie xoxo
Thank you for your concern, Leslie ๐ I am doing fine – my eye just feels tired and a bit swollen. Healthcare in BC is as relaxed and casual as everything else I have experienced here so far, I am learning ๐.
Oh my. You’d think they would have given you the diagonosis ahead of time. I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery!
Thank you, Sandy ๐ Yes, definitely on the road to recovery! Retinal tears and detachments (of which I had a partial) are nothing to joke about…yet I did anyways ๐. My late husband had a complete retinal detachment and was rushed into surgery as there is only a very short window for treatment before sight is lost forever. Come to think of it, it happened during the SARS epidemic (was not allowed to go into hospital with him) and now hereโs me, during Covid. ๐ค
Yikes. I have an absolute terror of going to the eye doctor. Laser surgery? That would be enough for me to run screaming from the room. Glad yours went smoothly.
Thank you, RiverGirl ๐. I think the anticipation of the laser surgery might have been worse than the actual happening so it was for the best that it happened so quickly. Allโs well that ends well. And I got a blog post out of it. ๐
Whoa Nice to get a fast fix but I certainly would have needed time to process prior to having my eyeball popped out and surgery performed. Maybe better this way all and all though kinda like ripping off the bandaid quickly at the count of two? Glad you are fixed up
Definitely like ripping the olโ bandaid off! Would have liked to have time to remove my eyeliner first though ๐คฃ Thank you Sis ๐
Whoa! But probably the best way to do it rather that worry with advanced notice.
I agree (now)!!! Thank you Sarah ๐
Holy cow! Detached retinas are dangerous! Did you walk home with a dilated eye? It’s good that it happened too fast to freak out but yikes! I was getting uncomfortable with all the cancelled appointments. I’m paranoid about my eyes. I only have two and I need them both!
Yes, I do know how dangerous detached retinas can be. My late husband needed emergency surgery for one. Yikes indeed!!!! Yes, I did walk home with dilated eyes. Nothing new to the Nanaimo street scene, if you know what I mean. Half the population looks like I did on any given day ๐คฃ. Thanks, Kate ๐
I am so glad that you have a sense of humor about it (and damn! you got a blog post out of it!).
โMake lemonade out of lemonsโ…that old saying ๐คฃ Which unfortunately I have too much experience with, for my liking! Thanks, Kate ๐
ok still need to rant a bit. glad it worked out BUT nobody should be allowed to do things to your body without consent. And I believe the medical profession needs and should have informed consent. This was wrong. Glad it worked out though.
Thank you, Carol ๐ I agree it could have been handled much better.
My husband had emergency laser surgery for a torn retina a few years ago, and he is still causing mischief everywhere he goes, so hopefully, you’ll have the same excellent results!
I am confident I will, Donna. Thanks ๐
I guess all’s well that ends well. I’m glad your eyesight is okay and the problem was fixed. If a doctor told me I had blood in my eye, that would get my attention. That they took them so long to address the situation would leave me feel a little alarmed.
I know, TG. I am still trying to figure out how we went from: Everythingโs cool to HOLY SHIT GET IN HERE NOW. Guess I will never know but I suspect it happened when the eye surgeon finally got a chance to take a look at my old scans. Thanks ๐
Holy cow, that was painful to read! I have floaters too but, fortunately that’s all they are. Like others have said, maybe it was a good thing not to have much pre-warning. I’m amazed you had to paperwork to complete. Here you pretty much have to sign your life (and, of course, your life-savings) away. I’m glad it worked out for you.
You know, nobody there even asked to see my health card. I could have just said I was me. (But of course they had my previous and current eye scans so I guess they could confirm my ID that way?) Like I said, totally relaxed here. When I go to the post office to pick up my packages, the lady behind the counter recognizes me (even with my mask on) and doesnโt even ask to see my ID anymore. What a place ๐คทโโ๏ธ Thanks, Janis ๐
Wow, you’ve had quite a week! And the eye treatment! That was scary quick! Hope by the time you read this, your eyes are back to normal. What seems weird to us common folk is an every day occurrence in the the medical community.
I had a giant floater for over a year that looked like a spider on the wall. Freaked me out. Eye doctor told me it would go away in a year and it did but not I’m getting another one. He told me if I got flashes of lights at the sides I was to get into emergency because that would mean I had a retinal tear.which is serious stuff if you want to keep your sight. Sounds like you got treatment just when you needed it, as scary as it was not to have time to mentally prepare.
Thanks, Jean ๐ I never had flashes of light, just those damn jumpy little black bugs. I wonder how long I was walking around with a retinal tear. Since last fall????
This is crazy. I mean, you are not fine, you are fine, you are not fine, LET’S FIX IT NOW. Nothing about this reminds of our health care which in some ways is good but…. I trust you’re doing better now, but what a story to tell.
Exactly how I feel, Ally. Our health care is usually very good, I feel. But I just might have slipped through the cracks a bit this time. The eye surgeon saw something in the scans that no one else did (or maybe just had a intuition about what he saw…he did say they were tough to read because my eyelashes were in the way of where he wanted to look, in past scans) and decided to accelerate things. I am glad he did. Thank you ๐
Malcolm had the same thing happen last year. We were at a play and he asked me ‘what’s that black thing walking across the stage’. Hmmm….Next day he saw his Optometrist, who booked him with a surgeon for the afternoon. Sure enough, the surgeon confirmed a slight tear and performed the laser surgery on the spot. Quick action by all, covered in full by insurance, full recovery, no complaints.
Your situation sounds like borderline malpractice and could have resulted in a disaster. I’m very glad that it worked out, but jeeez…. laid back is good for somethings, but when it comes to healthcare, I much prefer an anal retentive asshole.
Wow. So Iโm not the only one. I knew to watch for flashes of light but no one mentioned seeing black bugs. And not the only one to receive laser on the spot. I think this surgeon is just so busy he just gets right down to it, and has been doing this for so long has forgotten what its like to be on the receiving end of this treatment. Thanks, Suzanne ๐
What the f***. Totally inappropriate that no one ever gave you a potential diagnosis along the way. Absolutely ridiculous that the surgeon did not develop any kind of rapport with you give you a diagnosis give you treatment options and then proceed. As a healthcare provider I feel strongly that this is not laid back this is lazy and borderline incompetent. Oh I’m sure he knows what he’s doing in regards to the laser but this has been handled so flipping badly. As a nurse it just makes my blood curl. Yes all’s well that ends well and perhaps not having much thinking time about it was okay but…
I guess you can tell from my tone of voice that I can get quite heated about Healthcare. The most read post on my blog is called Rant and it got shared over a hundred times and it was all about what’s wrong with Healthcare. Take it easy and hope it all heals up ok.
Thank you, Bernie ๐ Your comment makes me feel better that I was so shook about what happened to me yesterday. I was walking home wondering how long I had been going about my daily business with a sight-threatening tear in my retina. I suppose it could have fully detached at any time and I could have lost the sight in my right eye forever. Allโs well that ends well, I suppose. And I will not place so much trust in others that they know what they are doing, in the future.
Ok more ranting required. Glad things worked out but seriously what about informed consent. Nobody should be able to mess with your body without consent. This was wrong.
Yes, I wasnโt asked so much as told that this is happening. I know retinal tears and detachment are very serious and I could have lost the sight in my eye if this wasnโt done. Or, as the doc said, I would have met him in the OR soon, for an actual operation. Jeff had this operation as his retina had fully detached. They put you under and pull the eyeball right out of your head in order to surgically fix it…Iโm glad it never got to that stage with me. So I understand the need for quick action. I also understand the doc was severely behind (I had a 1:30 appointment and I didnโt see him until almost 5 pm) and there were more people to be seen after me. It was wrong, and it turned out right. Lesson learned…be more forceful about getting something done about this huge floater! Donโt accept that everything is OK, especially when they want to keep seeing you. Thanks, Carol ๐
Just saying that any woman who walks away from something saying to herself what just happened to me sounds like she has been violated. Not good
You have a point there. I never thought of it that way. As I mentioned in the blog everything happened so fast I did wonder for a nano-second if I was trapped in a room with a crazy person pretending to be a doctor, who was going to blind me…but I hardly had any time to even think THAT. You can bet I will be going to my follow up appointment in July armed with a whole bunch of questions and demanding some answers!
OMG what a terrible scare. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling okay. But still, as everyone else has pointed out, none of this healthcare sequence (and lack thereof) was okay. I kept shaking my head as I was reading saying to myself ‘But I just spoke with Deb yesterday at noon.” Sending healing vibes to you!
I got the call just after logging in to our second Zoom session. Thank you, Donna ๐ My eye feels much better and no more floater!
Holy @#$%^&* *&^%$#@@! Hell!
I have SO MANY questions!!! As you know, Iโve had laser surgery twice – 4 times if you count the fact both eyes were done twice – and this just sounds so @#$%^&* WRONG.
Glad you are ok, my friend. Youโve had one hell of a week ๐
Thank you, Joanne ๐ Weโll chat soon!
My first “real” eye doctor was abrupt with the procedures like that…doing things to my eyes without telling me first or preparing me when I was 19 and it scared me so bad I’ve been terrified of eye doctors since! I only go if I absolutely have no other choice, and I’d prefer a shot of tequila or a tranquillizer before going too!
I’m very happy to hear that your eye problem has been fixed though and the floaters and third eye are gone!! WOOT!
Thanks, Deborah ๐ Iโve had Lasix corrective surgery for my vision and boy, do they do a good job of preparing you for what your couple of seconds of laser surgery will be like. There are videos to watch, paperwork to read, etc., etc. I know retina tears and detachments are extremely serious, but how come I was the last to know my situation (that I had been living with since LAST OCTOBER) was an emergency? That is one question Iโll be asking in 6 weeks, at my follow up.
Glad it all worked out tho the process left much to be desired (wicked understatement). The difficulties of living in an under serviced healthcare region rears its head. At least you didnโt have to travel 200 km to said specialist from the interior no longer served by plane, train or bus.
Thanks, Susanne ๐ Yes! I would have had to get on a 2 hour ferry, and drive into Vancouver if he didnโt make his weekly trip to Nanaimo. Last time I was at the eye doc, I overheard the nurses telling a patient they had to get on the next boat immediately for emergency surgery in Vancouver…they must have had a full detachment of the retina happening. Sounds like maybe you or a family member experienced something similar?
Yes. Family in the interior. Beautiful place as long as thereโs no medical crisis.
What can I say, Lovely… Am so grateful you’re safe home and able to communicate. ๐
Thank you, Del ๐
What a terrifying experience and a relief it turned out for the best, but all the things that could have gone wrong and they didn’t go over had to give you pause, tho’ you had zero time to react! Our Healthcare System in America is FUBAR too and too expensive for most people to even get appropriate medical care. If you can get any Insurance to pay for something it seems the provider gets carried away on how much they can profit off keeping you dependent upon them rather than having Healing in mind. Lets face it, no profits to be made off of Wellness in the Medical Field and lets not even get started on the profiteering or Big Pharma and how they have everyone in their pocket… keeping people addicted to their products is big business. I’m glad you finally got some relief from what was wrong, tho’ it was negligent to an extreme by the time they addressed it and unprofessionally handled once they did.
Thank you, Bohemian ๐ Our healthcare system is usually pretty good, at least in my limited experience. I 100% agree with you on the reliance on Big Pharma. Seems there is a pill for everything these days, to shut you up and cover up your symptoms instead of getting to the root of whatโs really going on so that real healing can begin. Iโm really glad my eye got fixed, but did it have to be so damn traumatic???? I think not.
Geez. I’m so sorry for your family members. And also sorry for the mess that your care providers have made of your situation. For the better part of the last 40 years, all I’ve never heard is how much more sane the Canadian healthcare system is compared to ours. I still believe that to be true, but your saga just shows that once a bureaucracy is built, there is still plenty of red tape to go around. Glad it all worked out for you in the end. – Marty
I canโt comprehend what it would be like to be having to pay for healthcare or make decisions on health depending on what you can or cannot afford. I am grateful for our Canadian healthcare system but no system is perfect. Like you said, Marty…once a bureaucracy is built, so is the red tape and inefficiencies that go with it. Thanks ๐
Bloody hell!!! The universe is really conspiring against so many of us at the moment. I hope that your sister and brother in law are ok — and I hope that your surgery has been successful. Take care!
Thank you, Su ๐ My sister and BIL are in good hands I think, and my surgery seems to have been successful. Traumatizing but successful ๐
That’s great news. I had laser surgery last year — planned and semi prepared-for — but was still totally freaked out that someone was messing with my eyes. And of course, the surgeon now thinks it didn’t work properly and wants to do it again. Sooo much worse this time around as I know what to expect. ๐
Hi Deb – so pleased everyone came through in the VI relaxed way of life – when things go off – they go … amazing you could walk over. Also the blog has given you a cauterising (not quite the right word! – – perhaps disseminate is better) … way of telling us your story – which I’m glad turned out successfully. Better that way – methinks.
I went to the cinema one day and suddenly couldn’t see … similar to you – thankfully mine sorted itself out (after hospital visits etc) … I do have floaters, so am aware that the poor jelly around the eyes gets tired too! But should I get the third-eyelid story at least I know what to expect …
Your family stories are a little troubling … I can only wish everyone the best – and you some peace for a week or so … take care – and with thoughts – Hilary
Thank you, Hilary ๐ I think the word you might have been looking for is therapeutic…blogging is certainly my therapy when it comes to dealing with things. I try to see the humour in the situation, of which there was plenty to go alongside the trauma ๐. Yes, I am hoping for a better week for the family. I was able to watch my uncleโs funeral being live-streamed on Saturday, and that was lovely.
Deb, I could barely draw breath during your description of your eye traumas. Even knowing that time is absolutely of the essence with retina tears, that whole experience sounds positively gobsmacking. I’m glad to hear that it was successful & you’re on the mend. Good thing you’re a bad ass independent lady eh?
Lastly, I am so terribly sorry to hear about your multiple family sadness.
Thank you, Deb ๐ I am in daily contact with my sister and we have had some very good chats. She is in better spirits each day as she recovers. I havenโt heard much from Ontario, but they are spotty at communicating at best, since even before I moved, so no news is good (or at least not worse) news I suppose. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Hi Deb – thanks … I was referring to your multiple family issues … mine are fine as far as I’m aware – fortunately. Yes – bad’ass is definitely where I fall in the scheme of humans! I don’t panic … and draw breath before I make or others make a decision for me. I was nearly sent off to Victoria for a cancer scare … I just decided it wasn’t … and it wasn’t, so I didn’t go … it’s a dermatology thing – nuisance and still ongoing … c’est la vie – not serious, per se.
The eye – my sight came back … and so I watched the film and then dealt with things thereafter … I am fortunate to be sensible, and in good health … it’s the way I am – bad’ass, but just about out the box as far as most are concerned! I do hate following the crowd …
Take care – and thanks for the reply … cheers Hilary
Hi Deb – I think I replied to the wrong Deb comment … no worries! Similar … just the way life gets … as you mention though – blogging is great for bringing us back to earth, and providing support – cheers – H xo
๐๐๐
Daily good chats with your sister sounds just perfect. Good to hear that she’s recovering. That other BC (the big C one) can be a bit of a bugger. I send my best wishes to you both.
๐๐
That’s kind of a big deal!!! I’m glad you were able to get it resolved, even under the circumstances.
Yes, indeedy! A big deal! Thanks, Tracey ๐
I shouldnโt be laughing but I am. Mostly because I know youโre doing fine now (I hope all is still well). But your story telling of this adventure was so perfect. โWhat the fuck just happened to me?โ had me laughing out loud. I was about to ask that same question for you. I could picture you stumbling home in a daze.
Sending you hugs and hope all continues to be well. Also, condolences to you and your dear loved ones on all the health issues and loss. ๐
Iโm glad my post made you laugh, Kari. I think you should be laughing or else I didnโt do my job. I wrote it to do just that. But people are commenting about how concerned they are about me or mad at the healthcare system, so I think I struck a nerve with people instead of striking their funny bones. Only 1 other person told me they laughed when they read this, and then told me they were sure that made them a bad friend…LOL! Quite the opposite…thanks, Kari ๐
Aww, I understood the tone of the post. I am glad your eye is better. ๐
Holy hell! That sounds like a true nightmare! I’m happy your 3rd eyelid is gone. Good lord… What a procedure. My youngest son get abrasions on his eyes, they grind/polish them and he has to wear an optical band-aid, basically a contact lens AND they made eyedrops from his own blood and he has to use those every day! They’re called blood tears which he loves but crap… Eye issues just really freak me out. I hope you never ever have this problem again! – And, I’m very sorry about the illnesses plaguing your family… I will be keeping all of you in my prayers. <3
Thank you very much, Mimi ๐
Oh wow. There just don’t seem to be words about your experience – but it’s probably better to just get it fixed in 30 seconds then wait and have to go surgery. Still… Condolences on your recent loss and I hope your family members are doing much better now.
Thank you, AJ ๐ I agree with you about getting it fixed immediately. I just wish they had taken an additional 30 seconds to better explain and prep me for what was about to happen.
I am very sorry about the bad news, Deb. Good grief. By now you are hearing about other eye issues from friends, family and readers. Mine, retinal tear, floaters, curtains a couple of years ago- all ok now. A good likelihood it can happen to my other eye and now I know what to expect. How stressful and having to rely on these corny comedians. Hopefully they got an โAโ in medical school. Thank goodness for โParadise Islandโ for many reasons. xo
Yes, indeed! I seem to bring out the humour in medical professionals. I now know what to expect and, although no one has told me such (yet), I am suspicious I could be in for a problem with my other eye as well. Thank you, Erica ๐
Oh man, Deb! Hope you are feeling better …
It’s one thing to hear stories about the system, but quite another to have to live through it!
Sending you a big hug!
Thank you, Ju-Lyn๐ Yes, I am over it now ๐ Blogging is my therapy ๐
It is a balm and comfort. Glad to hear you are ok!
WOW. I’ve never heard of anything like this before. The healthcare saga, not the retina issue. I don’t want to point fingers, but I don’t think the Canadian health care system is working in your favor.
I can’t believe you had eye surgery like that. No notice. No signing of waivers or read your rights.
I hope your eye stays healthy and you don’t have to go through that again.
So sorry about your family members. XO
Thank you, Suz ๐ Iโve never had anything like this happen before either. It is not indicative of the healthcare system as a wholeโฆbut maybe they do things differently here in LaLaLand??? ๐ Every one and thing seems to be much more relaxed here. I do understand the need for expediency with all things retinalโฆI could have easily lost the sight in my right eye forever if fast action was not taken. But jeez, take a coupla seconds to prepare a girl better, will ya?
I’m happy that this isn’t the norm for your health care. Be well my friend.
Deb, my first husband had a retinal tear, and they treated it like an emergency, taking him in for surgery immediately. Unbelievable, the rigamarole you went through! Thank gosh they got it in time, after all that.
Jude
Yes, thanks Jude ๐ I wonder how long I was walking around like that. I find it hard to believe it โjustโ happened to me.
OMG, I had to read this, because I knew it would be entertaining! It’s bad here too. I was supposed to get an MRI for a shoulder injury a few years ago, and it kept getting rescheduled. Finally, it looked like it was a go! I had the day off of work (I am a teacher, so getting a day off isn’t easy), and I waited forever in the waiting room. Finally, they said there was a problem with the orders, and I needed to call my doctor’s office and have them fix it. The doctor’s office, once I actually got a human being on the phone, gave me all this stuff to tell the receptionist, and they kept trying to argue through me. Finally, I handed the receptionist my phone, and she took it and talked to someone in the back room. By the time they had it all ready to go, the radiologist had gone home! They called my husband the next day and said I could come in then, but a teacher can’t get a day off that quickly. I gave up and hoped yoga would fix it or it would just get better. It did.
I’m not gonna lie. When I realized I probably had Lyme disease recently, my first thought was, “Oh s–t, I’m going to have to go to the doctor.” I was SO relieved that I could get treated through one of those websites where you chat with a doc online!
I am so sorry to read about your Lyme disease. My sister has it, was undiagnosed and untreated for yearsโฆit is not good. I hope that you get proper treatment, promptly. We do often get the run-around, donโt we? Medical bureaucracy is particularly galling because our health can be impacted. Thanks for commenting, Bethany ๐
Yeah, I grew up in Michigan and knew a lot of people with horrible Lyme stories. I hope your sister is on the mend now! I’m already on antibiotics and almost symptom-free, so hopefully that does the trick!